Labeling-machine.



No. 692.055; Patented Jan. 28,1902. E. N.'G|LFILLAN & E. T. McKAIG.

LABELING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 26, 1901.)

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

Patented Jan. 28, I902. E.. N. GILF|LLAN&. E. T. McKAlG. I

LABELING MACHINE.

A u ati'on me'd .m 26, 1901.

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No. 692,055. Patented Jan. 28, I902. E. N. GILFILLAN & E. T. McKAIG.

LABELING MACHINE. (Application fl 1ed July 28, 19.01.)

' 4 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

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Patented Jan. 28', I902." E. N. GILFILLAN & E. T. MCKAIG.

LABELING MACHINE.

(Applicatioz; filed July 26, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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I UNrTEn STATES PATENT Curios,

ESSINGTON N. GILFILLAN AND EDDY TTMCKAIG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO NEW YORK LABELLING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW YORK.

LABELING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 692,055, dated January 28, 1902.

Application filed July 26, 1901.

' T aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, Essmcrou N. GIL- FILLAN and EDDY T. McKA'Ie, citizens of the United States, and residents of Chicago, in

the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Labeling-Machines, of which the following is a specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which the same to reference characters refer to similar parts in the various figures. l g

This invention relatesto labeling-machines in which articles are intermittently moved along a runway and in which a series of 1a :5 bel-applying devices cooperate with the said I runway to apply labels to said articles at stations along the runway.

Figure 1 is a side elevation ofthis machine, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a side sectional View taken substantially along the central plane of the machine and looking in the opposite direction from Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. tis adetail of the feeding devices. Fig. 5 is a transverse section. Fig.

6 is a detail of the retainer. Figs. 7 and 8 show the pressure-pad in detail. Figs. 9 and 10 show the construction of the label-box.

The frame of the machine is formed of two side members Aof anydesired materiahsuch as cast-iron, connected together bythe transverse members A, A A and A to serve to rigidly connect the side members to form a rigid frame. It will be noted that the transverse member A forms a considerable extension at the rear of the machine and constitutes a i'eceivingtable, as is seen in Fig. 3. The gage B is adj ustably mounted on this table by a bolt,which coacts with the slot B in the table.

The longitudinal guide-pieces B and C are rigidly secured to the transverse members A and A by suitable bolts, the guide C being adjustable transversely of the machine, since the bolts C secure this memberto the frame and pass through suitable slots C in the transverse members. The spring pressed device C is mounted on the inner side of the guiding member C and is pressed inward at a number of points alongits length by springs C located in the cavities in the member C, while the spring-pressed guide is monntcdon Serial No- 69,753. (No model.)

screws 0*, rigidly secured to it, which fit loosely in holes in the guide C. In this way a slight amount of movement is allowed to this guide, and the width of the runway is therefore variable to some slight extent to allow articles to be held closely without cramping. It will be apparent, of course, that this spring-pressed guide might be located on the guide member B at the otherside of the runway, where its operation will be substantially similar. Both the members Band C are formed with lower flanges B C at their inner edges, upon which articles fed along the runway are supported.

The longitudinal supporting member D is rigidly secured to the frame of the machine by bolts D at either end, and upon this memher are bolted the standards D for the retainers. These standards are provided at their upper ends, which are substantially above the runway, with vertical slots D The retainenpivots D are secured to these supporting members D since each pivot 1) passes through a slot D and is clamped in position by the nut D which holds the pivot in position at any desired height. The retainer E is pivoted on the pivot D, the bearing portion of the retainer E coming in contact with the collar D upon the pivot, as is shown in Fig. 5. A spring D is secured at one end to the bearing portionE of the retainer, and at its other end is-rigidly secured to the nut D which maybe rigidly secured on the threaded part of the pivot by the lock-nut shown. In this way the spring D holds the retainer against the collar D of the pivot, "and at the same time the spring tends to rotate the retainer about its pivot, and this action of the spring may be adjusted by adjusting the nut D The lower surface of the retainer E where it comes in contact with the articles fed along the runway, is slightly eccentric with respect to the pivot about which the retainer moves, so that this retainer has a wedging action upon acticles with which it comes in contact. ,The face of the retainer is covered with any desired yieldable material, such as leather or rubber, and this facing E is secured to the retainer by a clamping-plate E secured to the lower part of the retainer; One of these clamping-plates has a lateral extension E, which comes in contact with the adjacent parts of the support D and prevents the rotation of the retainer in one direction. The counterweight E is adjustably mounted on the arm E extending from the retainer, and it is evident that by adjusting this counterweight the retainer acts with more or less force to hold an article in position on the runway.

The reciprocating feeder F is mounted upon the feeder-guide B which consists of a rod extending longitudinally of the machine at one side of the runway and which is secured to the members B Bolts B hold these mem bers to the longitudinal member B by passing through suitable slots 13 in this member,

rod in a similar way by the screws G manner.

so that the feeder-guide may be adjusted longitudinally of the runway. Suitable washers of yieldable material may be placed around this guide at either end of the same to cushion the action of the feeder.

The feeder F consists of a tube embracing the rod B and sliding upon it. To this tube are secured the end pieces F, which may, if desired, be. made with flattened lower surfaces to engage the upper surface of the member B to guide the feeder in its reciprocation. The guiding member F is also rigidly secured to the feeder and is provided with a flat lower surface to engage the member B and is also provided with a depending lug F which reciprocates in a slot B cut in the member B to prevent the displacement of the feeder and insure its exact reciprocation. Upon the reciprocating feeder are mounted the feeding-pawls F which are pivoted to the supports F so as to move about the pivots F thcreon, and these supports are in the form of a split ring embracingv the feeder-tube and clamped thereto by the screws F It will be noted by reference to Fig. 4 that the projection F upon the feeding-pawls prevents further outward movement of the pawls than is shown in that figure by coming in contact with the support upon which the pawl is mounted. The spring F mounted in a hole in the pawl, engages the feeder-tube and presses the pawls outward in a yielding Itis evident, therefore, that each one ofthe pawls is always yieldably pressed outward from the feeder-rod, so as to project into the runway, and that each one of these pawls is adjustably mounted upon the feeder. The holding-pawls G are mounted to move about pivots G and have their free ends G formed to embrace the front end of an article to be labeled, such as a bottle, as is shown in Fig. 4. It is of course understood that the formation of the free ends of these pawls may be Varied as desired to suit the particular nature of the article to be labeled. The supports G are formed in similar manner to the supports F and are clamped upon the feeder- Each one of the supports G for the holding-pawls is rigidly connected to the connector G, as is seen in Fig. 1, so that these three holdingpawls, together with their supports, may be moved bodily along the feeder when the clam pin g-screws are released and adjusted as a unit in any position. So that if it is desired to adjust the feeder for a different size of article to be labeled the connector and the holding-pawls are moved together, so that each one of the holdingpawls is simultaneously adjusted to coact with the corresponding feeding-pawl. The outer ends of the holding-pawls are pivoted at G to the actuating-bar G and this bar has bolted to it the pivot G9, formed with a head G on its inner side, so that this head coming in contact with the feeder F limits the inward movement of the holding-pawls' This mode of actuation secures the simultaneous and parallel move ment of all the holding-pawls. It is understood, however, thatit is not necessary to employ the exact means which has been disclosed for actuating these holding-pawls so long as they are positively moved into en gagement with the articles on the runway.

. Beneath the runway and in operative relation thereto are mounted the label-applying devices consisting, as is shown in Fig. 2, of the paste apparatus, the label-box, and the pressure-pad for smoothing the label after it is applied to the article to be labeled. These label-applying devices are mounted at stations along the runway directly under each of the retainers, so that as they operate upon an article to be labeled the article is held down against the guiding members composing the runway by the pivoted retainer, the articles of course being stationary at the sta tions at the time the label-applying devices operate upon them.

The paste apparatus comprises a pasteareceptacle H, removably mounted upon inwardly-projecting ledges A on the side members of the frame, and the paste-wires H are mounted to dip into the paste in this receptacle and to move up into contact with an article to be labeled to apply a number of lines of paste to such article. Three of these pastewires H are shown turned upward at their inner parallel ends and mounted in a supporting member H This supporting member is provided with a guide-piece H which slides in'two guides H H, and the supporting member may be clamped in any desired position by the screws Hflwhich pass through suitable slots H in the support. The paster rotates about the axle H, upon which the frame H is loosely mounted, the frame being oscillated through the connecting-arm P, which is provided with a pivot H connected to the frame of the paster. The label-box K is formed of substantially rectangular crosssection and is provided at its upper end with narrow inwardly-projecting ribs K to retain the labels in the box. The box is formed, as is indicated in Fig. 5, with the aperture K by which labels may be inserted, as desired, in the box. This box fits loosely upon the label-plunger K provided with a rounded upper end substantially parallel to the labels, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, so as to cause these labels to protrude from the upper end of the label-box. The upper label of the pile in the box is forced into contact with the pasted article on a runway when the la bel-box is raised and the top label adheres to the article, so that when the label-box is lowered the top label is drawn out of the box and remains pasted to the article. The plunger is adj ustably secured to the plate K and this plate is provided with two dowel-pins K which fit in apertures in the label-support K to hold the label box in position on this support and for the purposes of readily adjusting the position of the label-box with reference to the runway. It is preferred to employ a number of label-boxes,together with their plungers and plates, the dowel-pins K in these plates being set at different distances from the center plane of the label-box, so that by placing a different label-box and plate on the labelsupport the label-box is shifted laterally of thelabel-support, and therefore is adjusted into proper relation with the runway for 1abeling articles of a different size. Also, since an adjustment of the label-plunger upon the plate is provided, eachone of the label-boxes is adjusted into perfect alinement, so that the labels are always applied in correct position upon the articles to be labeled. The labelsupport K carries two guiding-t ubes Kfiwhich embrace the guide-rods A on either side of the support to insure the proper vertical reciprocation of the label-box. The end M of the spring M engages the under surface of the label-support and serves to raise the labelbox, .as desired.

The pressure-pad L is formed of any suit-Q able yielding material, such as rubber, and is clamped in position upon the pressure-plate I. by screws,which serve to secure the clamping-piece L in proper position, and, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the clampingpiece is provided with enlargedholes for these screws, so that suitable adjustment is allowed between the pressure-pad and the pressureplate. The pressure-plate is secured to the pressure-support L by the wing-nut L on the screw L and there are also formed on the lowersurface of the pressure-plate the two dowel-pins L which fit in apertures in the pressure-support, and, as indicated in Fig. 7, it is intended to provide a number of pressurepads of substantially the same size, although they may be formed of different sizes, if desired, in which the dowel-pins are set at dif ferent distances from the center line of the pad. In this Way there is secured the ready adjustment of the pressure-pad upon the pressure-support in a way similar to the method employed in connection with the label-box.

The machine is operated through an oper: ating-lever M, formed at its outer end with a suitable handle, which is loosely mounted upon the rock-shaft M. The lever M3 is rigs idly secured on this rock-shaft in any desired position bythe set-screwshown, and the bolt M passing through a circular slot M? in the operating-lever, serves to clamp this lever to the lever M and thereby to actuate the rockshaft M by means of the operating -lever. The bolt M, which is secured to the upper end of the lever M fits loosely in the sleeve M and this sleeve'embraces the rod 0 so thatthe sleeve operates between the two adjustable stops 0 and O on this rod. The lever O, secured to the rock-shaft O by a setscrew, carries the pivot 0 to which the forward end of the rod 0 is connected. The pivot O in the upper end of the lever O is loosely connected with the sleeve 0 adjustably mounted at the forward end of the rod 0 The rear end of this rod is formed with the eye 0 through which passes the pivot G which serves, as has been explained, to swing the holding-pawls on their pivots and also, as would be apparent, to reciprocate the feeder longitudinally of the runway. The spring M (shown in Fig. 2) is secured at its inner end to the rock-shaft M by the sleeve M adjust-ably mounted on this rock-shaft, and after passing several times around the rock-shaft on either side of this member the free ends M of the spring extend forward under the label support and serve to yieldingly raise this support into contact with the article to be labeled. A spring N is similarly counected'with the rock-shaft N by the piece N adjust-ably mounted on this rockshaft, and the arm N, pivoted at N to the link N serves to oscillate the rock-shaft N, and thereby to raise the pressure-pad. The rear end of the link N is pivoted at M to the lever M The crank P is adj ustably secured to the rock-shaft M, as best shown in Fig. 5, and the crank pin P is rot-atably mounted in this crank-arm to actuate the rod P, which operates the paster. This rod P passes loosely through the crank-pin, and the adjustable stops P P upon it serve to reciprocate the rod and allow as much backlash as is desired to reciprocate it to any desired extent. r

l The operation of the machine is as follows: The operating-lever M is moved downward from the position shown in Fig. 1, and this serves to raise the labeling devices toward the articles on the runway through the m'ech anisin which has just been described. Fur

thermore, after the sleeve M comes into contact with the stop 0 the bar G connected to the holding-pawls, is reciprocated to move the holding-pawls out of contact with articles on the runway, and thereafter the feeder is moved to the rear of the machine along the feeder-guide 13. While this movement is taking place, labeling devices come into contact with the articles at the several stations along the runway and operate upon these ar ticles R R R as indicated in Fig. 2, while they are held down upon the runway by the retainers. Then another article, which may be a bottle, box, or package, having been w, V i I placed on the runway against the gage E the runway by the feeder.

operating-lever is moved upward from the position indicated in Fig. 2. The labeling devices are thereupon moved downward out of contact with the articles at the several stations, and thereafter, the sleeve M coming into contact with the stop the holdingpawls are moved about their pivots into contact with the articles to be labeled to positively grip these articles in connection with the feeding-pawls. Then the feeder is reciprocated to feed each of the articles on the runway forward one station, the article R assuming the position R and so on, the article B being taken from the forward end of the machine. This operation is repeated indefinitely, and it will be seen that the articles are intermittently and positively fed forward from station to station and are labeled at the several stations while they are held down in contact with the runway by the retainers. The pivoted retainers are freely movable and are moved about their pivots by an article fed along the Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that when an article-R, for instance-is moved along the runway from right to left in that figure by the reciprocating feeder the forward end of this article will engage the retainer and will swing this retainer in the direction in which the article is fed, so that the article passes under the retainer. The retainer moves downward as soon as the article becomes stationary, and thus automatically clamps the article in position upon the guiding members which constitute the runway. Then when the article is again fed forward by the feeder the retainer moves with it, so as to release the clamping action of the retainer. In the continuous operation of the machine the articles are reciprocated quickly along the runway, and the automatically-operatin g retainers are engaged by the articles in such a manner as to be swung out quite forcibly, so that they swing clear of the articles passing under them, and then when, the articles become stationary they swing back and grip these articles firmly. The adjustable weight and spring upon the retainers are useful in adjusting the period of the swing of the retainers, so that when engaged by an article they swing out and then swing back to engage the article almost as soon as it comes to rest upon the runway. It is understood, however, that it is not necessary in all cases to employ either the adjustable weight or the adjustable spring on the retainers, since in some cases the retainers may be made of the desired weight and shape to give the proper automatic action. The degree of eccentricity also of the retainers may be varied as well as the length of the retainers from the eccentric gripping-faces to their pivots.- With movable wedging-retainers, such as are employed, the retainer accommodates itself to the particular article on the runway, the retainer being swung away from the vertical by the article as it passes under it and at once swinging back about its pivot under the combined influence of its weight and the actuating-spring to wedge the article positively against the runway. It will be seen that by this means bottles and other articles of irregular shape may be readily labeled. If, for instance, such an article had a tapering for mation the retainer would positively grip the article and hold it down in proper contact with the runway and the label-applying devices at all the stations.

It is of courseapparent to those skilled in this art that it is not necessary to mount the retainers in exactly the way which has been disclosed so long as they properly engage the articles upon the runway.

While it is not necessary to form the runway exactly as has been disclosed so long as the retainers and labeling devices properly coact with the articles on the runway, yet it is advantageous to form the runway .open at the top, since in this case any article may readily be removed from the machine by simply releasing it from the retainer and withdrawing it from the runway. Since numerous changes in the construction of this machine may be made by those skilled in the art and since it is possible to employ parts of this invention without using all of the same, we do not wish to be limited by the disclosure which we have made in this case.

What we claim as new, and what we desire to secure by Letters Patent, is set forth in the appended claims, as follows:

1. In a labeling-machine, a runway composed of lower guiding members, one of said members being laterally adjustable to ,vary

the width of said runway, a spring-pressed guide on the inner edge of one of said guiding members, movable retainers mounted above said runway at stations along the same to engage articles fed along the runway and to hold them in contact with the lower guiding members, a reciprocating feeder, a feederguide on which said feeder reciprocates mounted adjacent said runway, a series of feeding-pawls and a series of holding-pawls mounted on said feeder, label-applying devices mounted beneath said runway at said stations, means to actuate said label-applying devices and to operate said reciprocating feeder to intermittently feed forward a series of articles along said runway and to apply labels to such articles at said stations.

2. In a labeling-machine, a runway comprising lower guiding members, one of said members having a spring-pressed guide mounted on its inner edge, movable retainers mounted above said runway at stations along the same, a reciprocating feeder, a feederguide mounted adjacent said runway and adjustable longitudinally thereof to adjust the extent of movement of said feeder, a series of feeding-pawls and a series of holding-pawls mounted on said feeder, label-applying devices mounted below said runway at the stations along the same and means to operate said label-applying devices, said reciprocating feeder and said holding-pawls thereon to intermittently and positively feed forward a series of articles along said runway and to apply labels to said articles while at said stations.

3. In a labeling--machine,'a runway comprising a guiding member provided with a spring-pressed guide on its inner face, movable retainers mounted adjacent said runway at stations along the same, a reciprocating feeder, a feeder-guide mountedadjacent said runway, a series of feeding-pawls and a series of positivelyactuated holdingpawls mounted on said feeder, label-applying devices mounted adjacent said runway at said stations on the opposite side of said runway from said retainers and means to actuatesaid label-applyingdevices and said feeder to positively and intermittently feed a series of articles along said runway and to apply labels to such articles while at such stations.

4. In a labeling-machine, a runway, movable retainers mounted adjacent said runway at stations along the same, a reciprocating feeder, a guide for said feeder adjacent said runway, aseries of feeding-pawls and a series of holding-pawls mounted on said feeder, label-applying devices mounted adjacent said runway at said stations to cooperate with said retainers and means to actuate said label'applying devices and said reciprocating feeder to intermittently feed a series of articles along said runway and to apply labels to said articles while at said stations.

5. In a labeling-machine, a runway, movable retainers mounted adjacent said runway at stations along the same, a feeder to intermittently feed a series of articles from station to station along said runway, label-applying devices mounted adjacent said runway at the stations along the same to eoooperate with said retainers and means to operate said label-applying devicesand said feeder.

6. In a labeling-machine, a runway,freelymovable retainers mounted adj acentsaid ru n; way at stations along the same, a feeder to intermittently and positively move aseries of articles from station to station along said runway, label-applying devices mounted at said stations to cooperate with said retainers and means to operate said label-applying devices and said feeder.

7. In a labeling-machine, a runway, freelymovable automaticallyoperating retainers mounted adjacent said runway at stations along the same to hold a series of articles in position at said stations, a feeder to intermittently feed a series of articles from station to station along said runway, and labelapplying devices mounted adjacent said runway to codperate with said retainers.

8. In a labeling-machine, a runway, automatically-operating pivoted retainers mounted adjacent said runway at stations along the same to hold a series of articlesin position at said stations, a feeder to intermittentlymove a series of articles from station to station along said runwayand labelapplying devices mounted at said stations along said runway to cooperate with said retainers.

9. In alabeling-machine, a runway, pivoted Wedging retainers mounted adjacent said runway at stations along the same to hold a series of articles in position at said stations, a feederjto move a series of articles from station to station along said runway, and labelapplying devices mounted adjacent said stations to cooperate with said retainers to apply labels to articles at said stations.

10. In alabeling-machine, a runway,pivot ed wedging spring-actuated retainers, mounted adjacent said runway atstations along the same to hold a series of articles in position at said stations, a feeder to move a series of articles from station'to station along said runway and label-applying devices mounted adjacent said runwayto apply labels to said articles at said stations.

11. In a labeling machine, a runway, a series of labeling devices mounted at stations along said runway to intermittently operate in connection with the same, a series of antomatically-operating retainers mounted adjacent'said runway at said stations and a feeder to intermittently feed forward a series of articles from station to station along said runway intoengagement with said retainers.

12. In a labeling-machine, a runway, a series of labeling devices mounted at stations along said runway to intermittently operate in connection with said runway, a series of pivoted wedging automatic retainers mounted to cooperate with said runway at said stations and a feeder to intermittently feed a "series of articles from station to station along said runway into contact with said retainers.

13. In a labeling-machine, a runway, an intermittently operating labeling device mounted to cooperate with said runway, a pivoted automatic retainer having an eccentric working face mounted adjacent said runway near said labeling device and a feeder to intermittently feed articles along said run-' way into contact with said retainer.

14. In a labeling-machine, a runway, an intermittently operating labeling device mounted adjacent said runway, an automatic wedging-retainer mounted adjacent said labeling device to clamp an article upon said runway and a feeder to intermittently feed articles along said runway into contact with said retainer.

15. In a labeling-machine, a runway, an intermittently operating labeling device mounted below said runway, a f reely-movable retainer having an eccentric working face pivoted above said labeling device to clamp articles upon said runway and a feeder to intermittentlyfeed articles along said runway into contact with said retainer. j

16. In a labeling-machine, a runway, a retainer having an eccentric working face of ICO yieldable material pivoted so as to be freely movable above said runway and an intermittently-operating feeder to feed articles along said runway into contact with said retainer to clamp said articles upon said runway by said retainer.

17. In a labeling-machine, a runway, a retainer having an eccentric working face pivoted so as to be freely movable above said runway and a feeder to intermittently feed articles along said runway into contact with said retainer to clamp said articles upon said runway by said retainer.

18. In a labelingmachine, a runway, a freely-movable retainer mounted adjacent said runway and a feeder to intermittently feed articles along said runway into contact with said retainer to clamp said articles to said runway by said retainer.

19. In a labeling-machine, a runway, an automatic wedging-retainer mounted to cooperate with said runway and a feeder to intermittently feed articles along said runway into contact with said retainer to clamp said articles to said runway by said retainer.

20. In a labeling-machine, a runway, a freely movable pivoted wedging retainer mounted adjacent said runway, a spring connected to said retainer to move the same about its pivot, means to adjust the intensity of action of said spring and a feeder to intermittently feed articles along said runway into contact with said retainer to clamp said articles to said runway by said retainer.

21. In a labeling-machine, a runway, an automatic pivoted retainer adjacent said runway, an adjustable weight on said retainer,

an adjustable spring connected to said retainer to adjust the quickness and intensity of action of said retainer and a feeder to insaid retainer upon said runway and to be released from said retainer.

said retainer and to remove said articles from said retainer.

25. In a labeling-machine, a runway, a reciprocating feeder, a feeder-guide mounted adjacent said runway, a series of pivoted feeding-pawls mounted on said feeder, a connector adjustably mounted on said feeder, a series of pivoted holding-pawls mounted on said connector to readily adjust the position of each of said holding-pawls with respect to its cooperating feeding-pawls and means to operate said holding-pawls.

26. In a labeling-machine, a reciprocating feeder, a series of feeding-pawls mounted on said feeder, a connector adjustably mounted on said feeder, a series of holding pawls mounted on said connector to readily adjust the distance between each one of said holdingpawls and its cooperating feeding-pawl and means to operate said holding-pawls.

27. In alabeling-machine, a reciprocating feeder,aseries of spring-pressed feeding-pawls mounted on said feeder, a connector adjustably mounted on said feeder and a series of positively-actuated holding-pawls mounted on said connector to readily adjust the distance of each of said holding-pawls with respect to its cooperating feedingpawl.

28. In alabeling-machine, arunwayhaving an open top, a reciprocating feeder, a guide for said feeder, mounted at one side of said runway, and a series of movable retainers mounted above said runway at stations along the same to hold a series of articles upon said runway at said stations.

29. In a labeling-machine, a runway having an open top, a reciprocating feeder mounted at one side of said runway, a series of pivoted retainers mounted above said runway at sta tions along the same to hold a series of articles in contact with said runway and a series of label-applying devices below said runway at said stations.

30. In a labeling-machine, a runway, a series of freely-movable retainers pivoted above said runway at stations along the same to antomatically clamp a series of articles to said runway at said stations and a feeder to engage a series of articles to feed said articles simultaneously from station to station along said runway.

31. In a labeling-machine, a runway, a series of f reely-movable retainers pivoted above said runway at stations along the same, the lower faces of said retainers being eccentric with respect to said pivots, and a reciprocating feeder to simultaneously engage a series of articles and to feed said articles from station to station along said runway to engage said retainers and to be automatically clamped upon said runway at said stations by said retainers.

32. In a labelingmachine, a runway, a freely-movable retainer mounted above said runway, a labeling device mounted below said retainer to cooperate with said runway, a reciprocating feeder to feed articles along said IIO clamped by said retainer upon said runway clamped upon said runway and means to acand means connected with said feeder to optuatc said feeder and said labeling device. erahe said labeling device While an article is 5 clamped to said runway by said retainer. v E%%QF F A? 33. In a labeling-machine, a runway, a i wedgin'g-retainer pivoted above said runway,

runway to said retainer to be automatically 1 runway to move said retainer and be thereby 10 i Witnesses:

a labeling device mounted below said re- FRANK A. AOER,

tainer, a feeder to feed articles along said .HARRY L. DUNCAN. 

